This is the fourth part of an eight-part look at each UFL team’s 2026 season.
Part Three: Birmingham Stallions
What went right
Houston ended up in the playoff fight until the end, winning two out of their last three games to remain competitive down the stretch. The addition of QB John Rhys Plumlee at midseason injected some athleticism - and excitement - into an offense that struggled with injuries at the quarterback position. The Gamblers finished third in the UFL in rushing in large part due to the Marcuses - Major and Yarns. After a rough start, their defense really clamped down, not allowing more than 24 points in a game after Week Three. Houston was relatively disciplined, only averaging 5.6 penalties per game. Kicker John Hoyland showed off a big leg and walked off Houston's first win of the season with a 50-yard field goal to beat Birmingham in Week Two.
What went wrong
If Houston had a consistent presence at QB this season, they may have snuck into the playoffs. As it was, they were snakebitten by injuries at the position, starting four quarterbacks over the course of 10 games. It got so bad that WR Jontre Kirklin had to take snaps there to finish out one of the games. In part because of the instability there, the Gamblers had only six touchdowns through the air. Houston never lost more than two games in a row this year but they also never won more than one game in a row, which hampered their playoff chances. Despite the move to a more fan-friendly stadium, the team continued to struggle to draw, making them a top contender for relocation should the UFL take that tact in 2027.
Stat to note
To many, Pro Football Focus grades are controversial. However, the best use of the grades is to confirm what you see with your own eyes. And usually, the grades match up pretty well to how someone plays; rarely do you see someone graded well who doesn't pass that "eye test," or vice-versa. There are exceptions, and in Houston, that exception is guard Gareth Warren. Warren was named to the All-UFL team for his play in 2026. PFF would disagree - strongly. Warren was the lowest-graded player on Houston's offense for the season, with a 27.0 (60.0 is considered average).
Offensive MVP
When you have the kind of merry-go-round at the QB position that Houston had this year, it makes having a reliable center that much more important. And Houston had that in C Jack Kramer. A stalwart along the line, Kramer was the only Gambler lineman to play every offensive snap this year. Kramer has now played in excess of 550 snaps in each of the last four spring football seasons. His ability to handle the pivot likely made the transition from QB to QB easier for the offense as a whole, and specifically, the new QBs themselves.
Defensive MVP
What would D.C.'s pass rush look like if they still had DE Malik Fisher? Taken in the Defensive Front Seven Phase of the UFL portion of the league's 2026 Draft, Fisher was a one-man wrecking crew for Houston, tallying 11 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks. He teamed with Kenny Dyson (7.5 tackles for loss, four sacks) to provide a formidable one-two punch off the edge. Those two accounted for 12 of the Gamblers' 20 sacks on the season. When a big stop was made by Houston's defense, chances were high that it was Fisher involved in the play.
Special Teams MVP
Handling the bulk of both punt returns and kick returns was WR Lawrence Keys III. And Keys produced in both spots, ranking second in the UFL in punt return average (for those with enough returns to qualify), and fifth in kickoff return average. That's all in addition to his work on offense, where he led the team in receiving yardage, receiving average, and touchdown catches. For a team that struggled to move the ball on offense at times, field position was critical, and that's something Keys helped out with in the return game.
Most likely to succeed (in getting NFL opportunities)
A few players are already on the books for NFL tryouts, including Keys, fellow WR Jalen Moreno-Cropper, S Major Burns and RB Marcus Yarns. I'd add RB Marcus Major to the list of probably tryouts at some point. OT Gottlieb Aydeze played well and should get another NFL opportunity. Fisher could find his way back to the big league on defense. S Glendon Miller and LB Eugene Asante are other names to put into that category as well. This year was not a banner season for UFL kickers in the way it has been in the past, but John Hoyland performed well and may have put himself on some teams' emergency lists.
QB concern level for 2027 (1-5)
By the end of the season, Houston finally had the QB one-two punch they sought at the beginning of the year. Plumlee was on their claim list, but he ended up signing a futures deal with Pittsburgh during the course of the draft. In an ideal world, Plumlee would've been the starter with Hunter Dekkers as his backup. Plumlee seemed open to returning next season, and having a depth chart of those two plus the experienced Nolan Henderson at number three is not a bad QB room. None stood out with their play this year, though injuries and frequent changes at the spot could've played a role. Really, Houston could be set here and with Plumlee getting a full training camp in Eric Price's offense, he could do some damage. The lack of production in 2026, even with the above caveats, hold me back from being too confident here, so I'll go 2.5.
Head coach return scale (1-5)
Now in his second go-round with the Houston Gamblers franchise after leading them in 2022 with the USFL, Kevin Sumlin should be applauded for keeping his team competitive after a 1-3 start and dealing with so many injuries at quarterback. To get a 4-6 record after being blown out in two of the first three games is an accomplishment. Offensive Coordinator Eric Price utilized the running ability of his various QBs quite well, and Defensive Coordinator Marvin Sanders, a former lieutenant of Bob Stoops with the Renegades, did a great job righting the ship after some early-season struggles. Sumlin is a good veteran coach to have in the building and his success at the college level will help breed belief in him from his players. I have no indication he wouldn't want to be back next year. With "5" as most likely to return, this is a solid 4.5.
Offseason needs for 2027
If the coaching staff is sold on running back their QB room as is, that's a big piece they don't have to worry about finding for 2027. They present solid depth at the skill positions, though tight ends accounted for just 11% of the team's receptions. Adding a dynamic component at that spot would further stress defenses next year, but that hasn't been a position of priority for Price's offense in recent seasons. Adding a few offensive linemen should be something for which the team should be on the lookout. Houston could use stronger depth along the defensive line, notably a third pass rusher who can step in and help Fisher and Dyson. For a 4-6 team, the Gamblers don't appear to have many glaring holes.